Dumas: Status Quo is Not Sufficient

While highlighting past accomplishments, Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas turned his attention to the future Tuesday night during his sixth Inaugural Address.

His goals for the city over the next two years include continued city development, a continued emphasis on financial stability and a strong commitment to public safety.

"As your leader, I want you to know how strongly I believe that the status quo is not sufficient in my eyes," he said. "...It continues to be my ambition to be the best city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and I will never stop working towards that goal."

In addition to Dumas, who has served 10 years, Attleboro's city councilors, city clerk, city treasurer, city collector and school committee members were sworn in Tuesday night. Swearing in was conducted by Attleboro representatives including Rep. Paul Heroux, Rep. Betty Poirier, Senator James Timilty, Senator Richard J. Ross, and Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson.

The role of Master of Ceremonies was undertaken by Attleboro Superintendent Kenneth Sheehan while members of the Police Honor Guard, Fire Honor Guard, Attleboro High School Color Guard, Attleboro High School Concert Band, Attleboro High School Choir and the Saint John the Evangelist Choir all participated in the event.

Throughout his speech, Dumas reflected on the previous 10 years in Attleboro, noting that the city had persevered through difficult times.

"We are truly rebuilding the image of this city," he said.

The mayor pointed to examples such as continued downtown revitalization and the Attleboro High School field renovation project, which netted $600,000 through private donations.

Dumas boasted an upgraded Standard and Poor's credit rating over his last term - the second upgrade since he has been in office. City officials, he said, invited representatives from the credit agency to tour the city. The tour ended with an impromptu meeting in the stands of the new Tozier-Cassidy Field.

"We’re proving to them that we’re living in our means and doing more with less and working outside the box," he said, noting that Attleboro's stabilization fund had a bottom line of $7,777 when he took office now has a bottom line of $2.7 million.

"We did this all while keeping Attleboro one of the most affordable places to live than any of the surrounding communities," he said, pointing to Attleboro's average single family tax bill of $3,456.

Dumas drew applause while looking towards the future with an emphasis in his next term on beautifying downtown. Projects slated for 2015, he said, include working to rehabilitate dilapidated buildings, including the property across from the Sun Chronicle and properties on Union St.

"Its all of the people working collaboratively together that help make this happen," Dumas said.